Printing and folding machine



J. '1. WALSER. PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE. APPucATloN man szrT. 20.1911.

f 4770 Er- 1.1. WALSER. PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 19|?.

INI/ENTOH y w 9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PatentedMar. 29, 1921.

A770 NEI I. I. WALSER.

PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1917.

Patented 113.1229, 1921.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3. I

NNN aww.

' moer NKRIS PETERS. INC.. Llfl'l., WSHINGTDN. D. C.

I. J. WALSER.

PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINEa APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 1917.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. L WALSERI PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. I9I7.

Patend Mar. 29, 1921.

I. J. WALSER.

PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPI'. 20| I9I. 1,373,216. Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6I lim@ Normls PETERS, INC., LITHO WAsmNGmN D C I. I. WALSER.

PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE. Y APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20,19I7:

,'1',373.,216,. Y vPILIeiLIeII Mar. 219, 1921.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.V

PPD/XTM J. I. WALSER.

-PRINTING `AND FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, ISI 7.

IILCSIIILC P DzI IDI 59D PPODLICTO TQ'ANDEEPED IO CYL. I IAS AND PECEII/E CHOPPED KNIEE EOLD WITH DLADENSD AND DELII/EEED IN PACKED DOK.

E52 PAGE PPODDCTD H1 DI" n I `CLIT 0I l0 CUT f f I-IPDTCYL. E. I C T W l 10, i I o I III L IUI I G CDT U1@ i UT r-OLDED AT IIEAD ONLIl IO CDT DOING ZPLAIE WIDE ROLL w1@ ONEOLIAPTEIZ OP PLATE CYL, EQCOND CYL CIPCDMPEPENCE COLLECTED S ON CYL,"I45 PPODDCTD TPANsI-EDED TO CILNAS AND MIJ-1 I UT PECEII/E CHOPPEP KNIFE I-oLD NI1J I I UT wITII DLADEISJAND DELIVEPED im I UT Two ODCCEEDINO DHEETE IN -I-1 I CUT PAIPE IN EACH PACKED Dox, -bivI u I Nw I I-OPAGE PPODIICTO IIO NU* I CDI NI`I I Patented Mar. 29, 1.921.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

OLD

ID I4 IIIZZ ID ECOND CY IDsz MUT

CUT

-CUT

I-sz PAGE PPODUCT II? I7);

MMA

TT'RNE )(1. WALSER` PRINTING AND FOLDING MACHINE.

f IIPsT CYL.

II e 7 Io Isla 5 COND CYL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, ISIT Emma Mar. 29, 1921.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

I Pfg? l@ f f EIIzsT CYLI USING PLATE WIDE WED ONE-NALE CIPCDIYIPEPEN CE oT- CYL.*1OI PPODUCT APL SECOND `CYL. yPLATE CYL COLLE-CTE() 0N* I 2T; 2 TRANQD TO CYIIOV AND CY| ]OI PQODUCT@ ATZE AC3 .WOM THERE TO CYLIT|45 AND TQANf- I-:IZD TO 01h04 AND RECEIVE- CHOPPEP KNIFE EOLD PPDPI TNEPE To CYLfIAS AND 9 V CUT WITH EMDT DWT/WFD PECEII/E CHDPPEP KNIr-E T-oLD i Q 'INTO Two PACKEP DOXED. WITH DLADE *ISD DELIVEPED l Z:l S 1G CDT 5. I INT0 Two PACKEI2 BOXED. Z-ICfI PAGE PPDDLICTD IITITZI s., l ,mi 17QCIIT z-DPACIE PPoDDCTs IIB ITEr D 2| s 2 [C f f v 'f f EIPDT CYL. f IIPDT CYL.

' E-I; E I? E vI'eI QI sI u 26k {zzzIICU'TY I o' QQ CUT E y fa 2 faz L I CUT DPAGE5 5a PAEs 2|I z of; C CUT l L 7 DoIIP-PIETNS DE PLATE C YL 2l ZZ Gl FULL CIQCUMEEDTIHCT: Of E '9 a CIPCLIMEEPENCE COLLECTED oN PLAT? CYL COLLCTDQON CYL.*IT9 PPDDIICT5 ADETPANDPEPED CYL- T9 PPODU T5 A T2 To CYL'NDI AND PECEIvE CHoPPEP CND CYL' TQANSTQD T@ Umm ANU COND CYL' A KNIEE EDLD wITrI DLADEIIDDAND RECEIVE CIIoPPEIe KNIT-E EDLD DELIVERED To PACKED Dex. wITII ISLADETIDD AND Y Z0 DELIVERED To PACKED DOK 4 5 l DNEEIETII or' PLATE CYL CUT CIPCLIKIT-EPENCE @PIPPED DY CYL. A 7, CUT IDD PPDDIICT5 PECEII/E CIIoPPEIz |-4D PAGE PPDDIICT PIE S5 z5 KNIEE EDLD wITN DLADEHEID UT AND DELIvEPED To PACKED Dox. Z4 Z CIIT I-zPAC-IEPPDDIICT 1I 5* ZO I-D PAeEPPoDuC- 9A I #vz/ENTER UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.N

JOSEPH J. WALSER, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOSS PRIN'IIN'Gl-` PRESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PRINTING ANU FOLDIN G MACHINE.

To all fr0/loin may Concern.'

llo it lrnown that l, JosnrfH J. Wensen, a cit'aen oi the United States, residing in Uhr cago, in the county of (look and State of illinois, have invented certain new and uselul .improvements in Printing and Folding lill: chines,ot which the iiollowing is a specilication.

rlhe invention relates to printing presses and to folding mechanisms therefor, and to such machines wherein printed products ol iy ious hinds, and oi' various sizes, may be printed and. folded in diiierent ways and in dilferent sizes ot signatures, that is, signatures of different dimensions and off diiferent numbers ot pages, and in all or most cases i'olding the signatures so as to provide three open or free edges on all the signaturen and with the fold either at the top, bo' io or bach: oii the printed pages.

@ther objects ot the invention will be set il'orth hereinattor in part, or will be obvious herelirom or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being1 attained through the means, instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

'lfhe invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accomi'mnying drawings herein reliorrod to and constituting a part hereoii, :illustrate one embodiment oi the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles thereof.

*llt the drawings:

Figures l, ll and le, taken together and in the order given, are a 1front elevation olf a inaclii constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view substantially on the line Mll ont Fio. l, looking in the direction olf taie error and being a tranrwerse elcvatiini oi a portion oi1 the folding mechanism 5 Fig. 3 is an end View looking at Fig. lu from i the right F l .is an enlarged view of the central por on or Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an end view of one ott the `11nprcssion cylindeis` of; the halt-tone press;

i Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a form cylinder;

to le are diagrammatic develop- Specicaton of Letters'Patent. Pgltllted lua); 29, 1921.

original application filed July 11, 1917, Serial No. 179,830. Divided and this application led September Serial No. 192,274. i i

ments of the form cylinders, showing with four, live and eight plates, respectively, around the cylinder, and their respective products with diiierent Width webs and as coming from the different ycollecting and 'folding cylinders;

Of these: Figs. 7 to 13 show developments of the form cylinders With eight plates around the form cylinders;

Figs. 14, and 16 show the same but with four plates around the form cylinders; and

Figs. 17 and 18 show the same but With :five plates around the form cylinders.

It will be understood that the drawings are more or less diagrammatic in character, details oi construction being omitted from the various views for the sake of elearness.

Referring by way of example to the illustrated embodiment, there are provided printing means and mechanisms of different kinds adapted to print in different ways, and to print pages of different sizes, to cut sheets of different sizes, folding the sheets in diiferent ways and thereby making thefold in different relation or position with respect to the pages, that is, having the fold either at the top, bottom or back of the pages, and also therewith to produce signatures having dit ferent numbers` of sheets therein.

More particularly, there are provided in taglio or rotogravurc printing couples adapted to print on both sides ot the web, and in conjunction or cooperation therewithI printing mechanisms for printing in one or more colors upon the same web, and more particularly, as embodied, relief or hall tone printing nlechanisms ltor printing in two colors upon both sides of the web; the plate or 'form cylinders being adapted to take plates with the page length extending either along the 'form vcylinders or circumteren tially thereabout.

In the exemplified form, further, the plate cylinders are f our plates wide, for a given size, and are eight plates around when the page length is disposed along the cylinders, and live plates around when the page length is disposed circumierentially about the cylinders. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited in the number or dimensions of the plates upon the form cylinder. y

Further, in particular, in connection with the printing mechanism, a folding mechas pression.

nism is provided which will fold the perfected sheets cut #fromV the web, whether printed with 'the larger size Vor smaller size pages, or with different numbers ot plates arranged about the form cylinder', including numbers of plates which are not multiples ot each other, and will fold the signatures either at the sides of the pages, or at the tops or bottoms of the pages, as may be desired,.and in each manner or 'iolding' will turn out the signatures with the other three edgesthereoip free or open, and with signatures varying widely in the number of p ges as well as in page size.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1'L of therdrawings, a source of paper supply such as a web roll 1 is provided, the web ai therefrom ruiming over rollers 2, 3. 11, 5 and 6, between the `iirst printing couple.

In accordance with one feature ont the invention, this printing couple operates' on the rotary. intaglio or rotogravure principle. The intagliated or engraved cylinder 7 has its shaft 8 supported in demountable bearing 9, of suitable and approved design, said bearings being mounted upon the machine frame. The cylinder 7 rotates in a suitable inlr or color fountain 10, the doctor blade or wiper 11 removing the surplus ink from the Vsurface of the cylinder at a point between the color fountain and the impression or printing line. A suitable regulating or adjusting mechanism 12 is provided for the doctor blade 11.V

An impression cylinder 13 cooperates with the cylinder 7 to print upon 'the web m. The cylinder 13`is provided with'means for supporting or suspending it and for moving it away during the removal or renewal oi the cylinder 7, and for regulating` the im- In the embodied form of such means the shaft Alot the cylinder is carried in journal blocks 15, which blocks are slidably mounted in the press frame 16. The journal blocks 15 are connected to threaded rodsA 17, which rods engage threaded holes in the frame 16. Splined to the respective rods 17 are worm wheels or gear wheels 18, which mesh with a thread or worm upon a shaft 19, said shaft being mounted in the v press frame, and provided with a hand wheel 20. By turning the hand wheel 20, the cylinder 13 may be moved, positioned and regulated as required with respect to the cylinder 7.

The web after beine" vprinted upon by the cylinders 7 and 13 passes around a suitable drying cylinder 21. The web m then passes about the rollers 22, '23 and 24 and is led between the second intaglio printing couple which may be generally similar to that just described. c

1n the second printing couple, an intagliated orv engraved Cylinder 30 has its shalt31 supported in the demountable bearings 32, of suitable design, carried upon the machine traine, as shown in Fig. 1. A doctor or wiping blade cooperates with the cylinder 30 to remove the surplus color from the suriace thereof in a well-known manner, the blade being provided with suitable regulating and adjusting mechanism 3d.

Cooperating with the cylinder ll() is an impression cylinder 35, having its shalt ends 36 mounted in journal blocks 2') i, which blocks are reciprocable in guides 38 lormed on the machine trame. The blocks lo are supported by threaded rods 39, which rods are threaded in the machine iframe and provided, respectively, at their upper ends with gear or worm wheels 39% lileshing with the wheels 39 are gear teeth or worm threads on the shaft ett), which shal t is mounted on the machine trame and is provided with a hand wheel el-l. By turning the hand wheel Lil cylinder 235 is .moved upwardly and downwardly as desired to permit ready removal and insertion oit the cylinder 30, and to regulate the impression. rlhe web a; runs lrom the cylinders 35() and 35 over rollers d2 and 13, about a suitable drying cylinder lit, and thence about rollers 4:6 and el? on to the succeeding mechanism, as will be later described.

Suitable means for driving the mechanism just described are provided, and such means are partially indicated in the drawings. rlwo sets ot bevel gears receive their drive from cooperating bevel gears 19, upon a driven shaft (not shown). (lc-ars 5i), 5L and 52 are driven therefrom. Gears 53 on the shafts S and 31, respectively, ol? cylinders 7 and 30 drive their respective cylinders. A suitable vibrating or reciprocating mechanism for the doctor or wiper blades il and 33, respectively, are provided, and arev indicated generally by reference numeral 5l.

The web passes around rollers (l5 and (lo to the printing mechanisms shown in Fig. 1", the web passing thence about an impression cylinder (57. Cooperating with the iinpression cylinder (37 is a liorm or plate, cylinder G8, provided with suitable inlcingf mechanism, which is partially shown and is indicated by reference numeral G9. Cooperating also with the impression cylinder l( is a 'form or plate Cylinder 7l), the form cylinder having a suitable inliing mechanism which is partially shown, and indicated by 71. The web may thus be, printed in two colors upon one side by the mechanism just described.

The web n; passes thence to an impression cylinder 72, with which cooperates a plate or form cylinder 73, the form cylinder having suitable inking mechanism partially shown, and indicated b v reference numeral 74;. A second plate or torni cylinder 75 likewise cooperates with impression cylinder lill) 72. Cylinder is provided with a suitable inking mechanism, which is partially shown, and indicated by reference numeral 76. The web is thus printed upon the other or opposite side in tivo colors by the cylinders 72, f3 and 75 just described. y

Suitable oilset devices nre provided, if desired, for the impression cylinder and, as shown, an oiffiet web y is run about the .impression cylinder, the web running` from its supply roll 77, about roller "l-5, through the impression in contact 1with the previously freshly printed side of the web rr, and thence about a roller 79. The rewindin.;r roll of the offset Web rests upon rollers S1 and 82, the roller S2, or if desired both of said rollers, being driven to rewind the web at a uniform surfaceor linear sneed.

Suitable slitting;I means are provided, and

in the embodied form one or more rotary s litters 83 slit the web preparatory to its being directed to the folding)j mechanism.

Referring to the web associating, sheet cutting; and folding,- mechanism, and more particularly to the` devices shown in 2 and .il el, and in the left `hand part of Fie. 1., turning bars 9? and are provided im, directing the parts of the slit web the cutting and foldingr devices, in this ca se the Web being; slit once centwtlly and longitndinally.A ln the embcrl form of such devices, there are provided rota y cutters and 96, provi... li, tivo colperating,l pairs of cutting; s, one pair .being designated by 97, 98 and the other pair by 99 and 100.

The sheets out by the mechenism just described are delivered to tivo cooperating or alternately Wperatin.5;` cyli Y V 4-vlinder 191 is a collectingr and der, and is provided with irripi telt-- ing-.r the vleed of the sheets delivered theres from the rotary cutters 95' and 96. As embodied, there are three sels of the snippers 109 :nlepted to coe'perate with plates upon `the form cylinder in gro'lfis or multiples of four, to collect the siwressive sheets for a si; rature. in a Wel -lrnown manner.

Cylinder 101 is also provided with a plurality of folding blades 103. Coperating with cjgflinder lill, is a cylinder 104, which cylinder is provided with a `plurfility of loldingr 105, which coiipezi'ate with the respective folding; blades 102i to impart an intermel 1 y, fold to the el; or nroup or shi the fold] or the sheets are del red or transferred from the cylinder 101 to the folding' )aus 1053 ou i eimer selectively or elternutely to lille packer lion 1 i' and 109. li.. slit e" l'll l may be emploi/'ed to sever the tvo sifrufif i one from the other. Suitable guiding devices for the signatures, such as strippers,

from the drawings for th'` es they are old and -vell l The sheet or sheets me from cylinder 101- to cylinder Lilli und be folded by fr ers 152i as later more fully described.

Coperating with the collecting.; 101 is a. transfer` cylinder adapted either the .lead of thc webs `lust z cut, or to take `loups of sheets i Y, collecting cylinder, and to participcfite i.` foldingr there 1 f, the folded sheets beine; de livered at the other site of the macbi' from those just described. .Mis embed cylinder 120 provided. with a series rippers 121 for taking *he lead of the sheet, or group of sheets, aud is provided lilie- Wise with a folding?,` blade 122. (loipeii'sting with cylinder 120 is a cylinf' r 19:1, which. cylinder is provided with e. plurality of folding,` jaws 124i, which foldfinqj i cooperate `with the folding blade 1 cylinder 1.90, to impart un iut i" transverse fold 'lo the sheets, the l sheets in the mal l p; of the fold benin livered from the ey inder 120 inte the] e 1.2/1 of cylinder 9. A slitter 111 may be employed to sever tbe signatures Sie to folding. The folded sheets arn livered and transmitted by a series of rell-` ers 125, and are delivered selectively or alternately to the packer boxes 120 and` 194.

y Referring more particularly to the devic s for folding the narrow sheets at the top, there is shown at the left in Figs. 2 and l of the f lraivings, devices cooperating,- with certainof the mechanisms already described. Said devices comprise rotary cutters 1.37 and 138, which are provided Withtvvo pairs of coperating cutters, one pair being,r indicated by .numerals 139 and 14.0 and the other pair by numbers 141:1 and 142. The sheets out off by the rotary cutters are taken by a colire of clearne s, .fn

cylt

,looting cylinder 1113, which cylinder pro vided with a series of grippers 144. The sheets so collected are delivered to a transferring cylinder 141.5 provided With a series of grippers 1416. From the transferriuer cylinderile, the collected sheets are delivered into a pathway, Which pathway comprises tapes 1.117 and 148 running; over series of rollers 1419, 150, 151 and 1.52. The group of collected sheets are thereby brought to position to be folded by a suitable folding); mechanism, which as embodied, comprises :i folding blade `153 coperatino,- ivith rollers 154C and 155, the folded signatures being;- delivered either selectively or alternatelyuinto packer boxes 156 and 1.57.

Referring now to the mechanism` for cut ting and folding at the back sheets whereon the pages are arranged longitudinally of the sheets, being printed by the plates arranged with their length circumferentially about the form cylinders, atthe right hand in Fig.

. 1c, and in Fig. 3, are shown turning bars 167 and 168 for associating the two parts of y the web and directing them to sheet cutting 'v From the cylinder 179 the collected sheets are delivered to a transferring cylinder 181, and therefrom by suitable conveying means, such as a series of rollers 182, to suitable folding mechanism. The embodied form of folding mechanism comprises a blade 183, cooperating with folding rollers 184 and 185,`and therefrom the sheets are delivered to a packer box or other receptacle 186. i

ln position to take the sheets delivered from the rotary cutters 171 and 172 is a transfer cylinder 196 provided with grippers 197. The transfer cylinder 196 takes sheets from the rotary cutters and conveys them along a suitable pathway, comprising rollers .197, and 198, and directs the sheets to a suitable folding mechanism. As embodied the folding mechanism comprises reciprocating-.blade 199 cooperating with folding rollers 200 and 201. The folded sheetsare delivered to `a packer box 202, or other suitable receptacle.

The manner of operation of the hereinbefore described mechanism is substantially as follows :e-

The machine, as already brieliy stated, is

I adapted to produce various sized signatures, both as'to the page size and the number of pages, and will fold the signatures, with three edges open, and with the fold either at `the back of the pages, or if desired at the top or bottom of the pages (the latter fold being desirable for certain kinds of Work such as heavy catalogue work, where a great number of signatures are bound together by a' glued fiat back). In Figs. 2 and l of the drawings is shown the folding mechanism which is used when the plates are put on with their length disposed longitudinally of the form cylinder, and in the present exemplication there are eight plates about the cylinder. In this case the pages are arranged across the web and the sheets. It will be understood, of course, that the dimensions or the vnumber of plates are in nowise restrictive of the invention.

Describing first the mechanism which produces the signatures with the fold at the back or side of the printed pages and with the pages across the web or sheets, the per- Yimposed at the rollers fected web from the press is slit by the slitters 83, and the two slit portions o, and Zi are directed, respectively, over the turningbars 98 and 9st, and are associated or super-y From thence the web is run between the rotary cutters and 96 and is cut into sheets thereby. rlrlhe leading edge of the successive sheets is taken by the various sets of grippe's 102 upon the collectingcylinders 101, and the sheets are there collected, by the usual gri pper act-ion, to the desired number. The collecting cylinder is shown as a three way" cylinder (that is, having three sets of grip pers) and is adapted to collect either two 102 and is delivered to cylinder 10iin the,

bite of the folding jaws 105. The folded signatures are cut apart by siitters l0. and are delivered to rollers 105 and ll ireirom` selectively or alternately, io packer boxes 107 and 108. lllhen the meehaniinn is so operating grippers 109 are silenced.

The mechanism jut described is employed in the present embodiment with eight plates around and four plates along the cylinder. Various products may he secured by running a Yfull width web, or a three quarter width web, and slitting and associating the parts previous to cutting, or by running e. hall width web, and collectingfour on or less. rllhe collecting` gripper-s may also be. timed to collect to the full capacity of the l'orm cylinders, or to deliver more than one l'or each revolution of the form ev nders. There can be secured by Lhe variour rrangements, two thirty two page sigfnatures folded at the back and open ou all the, three other edges, or two signatures with :i submultiple number of pages, sueh as two si);` teen page, or two eight page, or two four page signatures; er one twelve page signature or like kind may be produced.

When the sheet or group o l' sheets is delivered to the right (in Fig. the two sheets which are simultaiu fiasly cut oli from the associated webs o. and. o are delivered together to the grippers 121 upon a transfer cylinder 120. r)The mechanism could be arranged so that the collecting cylinder could deliver a group of sheets to the transfer cylinder. The folding blade 122 tucks the middle oft the sheet into the folding jaws 122i, upon cylinder 123, thereby giving the een` tral transverse told to the sheet or groups ott sheets and also siinultaneously delf the sheet or group oi? sheen to cyiir ier l e in. the hite of one et the folding; jaws 12d. The iolded signatures .are ent aps t slitter lli and are delivered :from e), to rollers l25 and, are thereby del, either selectively or alternativ@y1, paelrer hores 126 and il ln this cas@ with eight plates around and leur 'plates lalongr the cylinder, there may he 'produced hy runv ningeither a full` widthj three quarter width, or half width wehT either two eight page signaturesj two :tour page signatu res or one twelve page signature, all. 'folded :it the hack and with three edges or sides open.v

Means are provided in cooperation with the foregoing,r mechanism for folding the sheets, either singly or collectedR at either the top or the bottom oi the pages instead oi? at the leach edge, said means being adapted also to operate uponsheets of different sizes.

lWhen the sheets et' the same size as those which are folded at the haclf: (hy the mechanism already descrihed) are to he folded at the ton7 the sheet or ,group of collected sheets unen the cylinder 101 is delivered unfolded to the cylinder 104i the sheets heine; taken from the grippers 102 hy the rripners 109. The folding: blade 103 andtoldine, liaws 1,05 are silenced when the machine is so used. The sheet or sheets are transferred from the cylinder 10d: to the rylin der isti the grippers i013 deliveringr the sheet or group oi sheets to the ,erippers 146. The sheets are then run to the transverse tol der 15th which tolds them across the top of the pages, the signatures heine delivered therefrom.) either selectively or alternately, to the paelrer hores 1,56 and 157. This mechanism. with the arrangement et plates already assumedi2 will produce either one thirty-two nage siipgna-`l ture.l or two sixteen or two page signaturcfrl each folded at the end that is either at the top or bottom. y

In this case the pages are the width of two plates with eight nlates around the cylinder and. a slitter i12 (Fini. 2) could he employed to separate the two signatures as they nass through the fielding rollers 154i and 155. i.ouhle width plates could also he used upon the form eylind ers1 or two narrow nlatescould he used to print unen a, wide sagre having a corresponding ifotogravure impression thereon. y I" lhen-it is `desired to told the narrower; sheets at the top or bottom of the nage,`;

the directed for portion ot their course through another part of the mechanism, .T y such case.l the web a or the webs e and b are weh or wehe and the sheet or sheets are; iideliver the last eight run through, and it desired associated at, the rollers 206, and are directed theretrom to` The cut By the mechanism ust described, there may be produced two thirtystwo page or four sixteen page silgignatures with the full width wel), or tour eight n: je signatures with a half width weh, all folded at the end (top or hottom) and with the other three edges open.

When the plates are arranged upon the form cylinder with the length oit' the plates extendingV circuniitcrentially thereaheut7 the weh is directed. to the 'toldinef` mechanism shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The slit `parts c and (l et the wel) are associated or superimposed by the rollers 109 and 170 and are cut into sheets hy the rotary cutters 171, and 172, and the sheets are taken hy the collecting' cylinder 179i` The form cylinder may he regarded as having live plates thereahouh and thiJ al-- looting` cylinder i479 havingr i'our sets ei grippers 180 and thus it will collect the sheets in. four grrfiiups ot tire sheets earh from a single welo or oil" ten .sheets trein a half-width superposed weh. The greens oi" collected sheets are delivered sueejisi'rcl transfer cylinder idr, and trom thence z forwarded to the folder which iolds the sheets and delivers them tothe packer he): or receptacle 18d This provides tor a 'forty page signature :tol ded at the hach.:r and witl': three er. ,es thereofA open It desirech cylinder l0@ will taire two sheets. and deliver them to the 'folder 109, to he folded at the haelt tl'ieii'ehy7 and delivered to the receptacle 2052. ln snch euse the remaininn1 eigzjht sheets 1 is ro from collecting cylinder i7 to transtcr cylinder lSi and :from thence to the i'oldinej mechanism 183, and he delivered thence to therecepy scrileed arii'angrement the grippers 'L80 ari-r ,rrangred to transfer the first two sheets to yhe grippers lf2 unen cylinder l96, and to sheets i to the grippers 07 on cylinder 18], y

In Fig. 5 ot the drawings is shown an impression cylinder adapted for use with liliewise receiving uch that has been said asto Fig. 7 fled and applied to the re# g rcs Vwithout' repetition.

'. 0, the plates are arranged eight around the torni cylinders in two sets or series sets of plates along this case the web is i associated by rollers ,y 95, 9G and the sheets are colin `or groups of two successive nde- 10/l. These so collected and livered alternately, into the l. This gives tour sixteen inches byllgY inches, which red two products e. two beets or pages) to each icing thus two signatures, Vteer 110, `tour signatures are Meting oi one product.` 9, the plates are arranged` eight s around the 'torni cylinders in two or series et *tour plates each, rhiplicate sets olf plates along The web is slit by slit- `te'l by rollers 205 and eut into The sheets are collected in u two sheets on cylinder 101, and loros of falieets so collected are folded into the laws 109 on cylinder l hy ineens ot cylinder 120, into the on cylinder 123, and theproducts l nately into the boxes 107, .l il. 127.' This gives eight eight prmlucts, inches by 11.-Q'- inches, two

, 11.1 are used, it will give one prodsig ature. l0, a half width web is used, with 1; pi tes around the form cylinders, in successive sets or series of four plates nach. and with two duplicate setso'l plates along the torni cylinders. The web is eut int sheets by 95. 90 and are gripped altertela by cylinders 101 and 120. These ts, f'espec irely, are folded into the aws V09 on cylinder 'l0-fl or, passing 'trom cylini 10,0, into jaws 12d on cylinder 123, and iyered alternately into boxes 107, `103, and This n'wes eight four page products inches by inches, delirered two products to cach signature, or by using the slitters rata" separately, that .is cut apart.

i F "il, 12 and 13, the plates are ard around the torna cylinders and in Lnotion therewith the sheets or signa* folded at the top or betteln of the c VThus the baclrs of' the eollectedfsigu in consist el? the cut edges of the sheets, instead oil the `tohlcd edges. This is advantageous tor certain methods of binding and with certain kinds of binding machines.

u der lib of iour plates each,`

each on cy Lider 101, are then trans lled and delivered into the JawsV '1f te each signature, or, it the slitters l and 111', delivering the sig` there is only one set or series oi plates along the form cylinders. The web is slit by slitter 83 and turned on bars 93 and 9d and the parts are associated by rollers 200. The sheets are cut on each page length by 13" and 138, and the sheets are colected four sheets on or superposcd on cylinder 143. The collected products are transferred to cylinder 14o and receive a knife or guillotine fold by knife 153 into rollers 154, 155, the told being, as stated, at the end oi the pages and not at the side thereof. The products are then delivered. This gives two thirty-two page products, 8g inches by 11g,

inches, folded` in the manner already deplates around the form cylinders in :tour

successive `sets orseries of two plates each, and with only one set or group oit' plates along the form cylinders. The web is slit at 83, turned at 93, 941 and the parts associated at rollers 206. The web is cut into sheets at every page length by 137 `and 138, and the sheets are collected two sheets upon cylinder 143. These groups of two sheets each are transferred to cylinder 145 and from thenceto folder 153. 154, 155 where they are folded at the end ot the page as already described in connection` with Fig. 11. lhey are delivered alternately into the two boxes beneath the folder. This gives lour sixteen page products 8-`inches by 11g.- inches.

In Fig. 13 the plates are 'arranged eight plates about the` form cylinders in four successive sets or series of two plates each, with only two plates along the cylinder in the set.

hev web is cut at each page length by cutters 137, 138 and the sheets are collected two on or piled on cylinder 143. The collected sheets are tansferred to cylinder 14:5 and receive a, fold at the end of the pages, as described in connection with Fig. 11, by folder 153, 154, :155 and the successive products are series, and with four plates in one set orse-` ries along the form cylinders. The web s slit by slitter 83, turned on bars 93 and 94,

and associated at rolls 205. The sheets are cut on each page length by cutters 95 and 96 and are collected, foursheets on or superposed, on cylinder 101. The groups of collected sheets are transferred unfolded to cylinder 104, and from thence to cylinder 145. The group or bundle of sheets is folded along the edge of the pages by the Vfolder 153, 154,155. The products consisting of single signatures, that is, one product to thel signature, Ycontaining 32 pages, 11,l inches by 174 inches, is delivered intoone of the boxes beneathfolder 153, 154, 155.

Tn Fig, 15 the plates are arranged four plates around the form cylinders in two series of two plates each, and with a single set or series of four plates along the form cylinders. The web is slit at 83, passes over bars 93 and94, and is associated at rollers 205. The sheets are cut at each page length by cutters A95, 96 and are collected two on or superposed on cylinder 104. The groups oftwo sheets each are transferred unfolded to cylinder 104, from thence to cylinder 145, and are folded along the edge of the page by folder153`, 154, 155 and are delivered into two boxes beneath the folder. This produces two products or signatures of 16 pages each, 111g inches by 17 2,; inches.

In Fig. 16,.there are four plates arranged around the form cylinders in two series of two plates each, and ink a series of two plates along the form cylinders. The web is cut on every page length at 95, 96 and the sheets are collected two onor superposed on cylinder 101. The groups of two sheets are transferred unfolded to cylinder 104 and thence to cylinder 145, and are folded at the sides of the pages at folder 153, 154, 155 and are' delivered `into two boxes beneath the folder. This produces two eight page signatures or products 11g inches by 17 i inches.

In Fig. 17 thereare five plates arranged in a single seriesaround the form cylinders and four plates in a single series along the form cylinders. The web is slit by slitter 83, turned on bars 167,168, and the parts 'are associated at rollers 169, 170; vThe sheets are cut at every pagelength by cut ters 171, 172, and are collected five sheets superposed on cylinder 179. The groups of `ve sheets are transferred to cylinder 181,

and are forwarded toand folded along the sides of the pages by felder blade 183v and its coperating rollers 184, 185 and delivered into boX 186. Thisfproduces one 40 page signature, 9ginches by 135% inches.

InFig. 18 there isv one series of four plates extending four-fifths of the way around the form cylinders and with four plates extending along the form cylinders. There is an additional series of a single row of four plates extending along the form cylinders. -The web is, Slitbyslitter 83, turned over bars 1.67, 168 and the parts associated at,

rollers 169, 17 0.v The sheets are c ut at every Y page length by cutters 171, 172.V The first group of eight sheets. are collected on cylinder179, arethence transferred to cylinder 181, and are forwarded to and folded by folder 183, 184, 185, and are then delivered into box 186. The other group of two sheets is taken by cylinder 196, and are thence forwarded to and are folded by knife folder 1,99, 200, 201, and are delivered into box 202. rThis produces one signature of 32 pages and one signature of eight pages, both 9gv inches by 13,5",- inches in size.

The dimensions of plates and the uumbers of plates, while taken from an actual commercial machine, are merely exemplary and illustrative and are in no wise restric- `ive of the invention.

ln connection with the different sizes of signatures and arrangements of plates, it will be recalled that p actically unlimited numbers, sizes and arrangements of designs,

illustrations, tints, backgrounds and the like can be printed en the web in practically any desired relation to the pages or groups of various numbers of' pages of half-tone, letter press and the like printed from the form cylinders. There is thus provided in the one machine the capacity to print at high speed from a web roll books and catalogues of a very wide variety of sizes both as to page size, number of pages, and variety of .folds for binding in different ways, with any desired arrangement of half-tone or line illustration with letter press, and an almost infinitely various capacity for independent design, with a tinted or toned background, having a desired or selected unit relation to pages, desired groups of pages, folds or signatures as may be deemed best for cata logues and other work where artistic and unusual arrangements are not only desirable but often of great pecuniary value in attracting attention to goods and thus increasing sales, and for other purposes as well.

t will be understood that changes may be made from the precise construction and ar rangements of mechanism shown and described, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrilicing its chief advantages. This application is a division of my application, Ser. No. 179,830 filed July 11, 1917.

That l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters 1Qatcnt is :w

1. A. folding mechanism including in combination sheet supplying` means. a collecting cylinder, 'foldingblades carried thereon, a coperating cylinder having grippcrs and folding jaws which are selectively silenced, and another' foldingmechanism to which the grippers forward the sheets when the foldingjaws are silent.

2. A folding mechanism including in combination sheet supplyingmeans, a collecting cylinder. folding blades carried thereon, a coperating cylinder having grippers and folding jaws, the collecting mechanism, the

folding blades and jaws and the grippers on the cooperating cylinder being selectively silenced. l

3. A folding mechanism including in combination sheet supplying means, a collecting cylinder, tivo transfer cylinders receiving sheets from the collecting cylinder, and two folding mechanisms, one folding mechanism receiving sheets from one transfer cylinder and the other folding mechanism receiving sheets from the other transfer cylinder.

1. A folding machine including in combination a cylinder adapted to fold sheets transversely or to pass them unfolded, a longitudinal folding blade and rollers, means for delivering the transversely folded sheets from the cylinder and means for forwarding the unfolded sheets from the cylinder to the longitudinal folder.

5. A folding machine including in combination a folding cylinder having a folding jaw and a sheet conveying gripper which are alternatively operable, a longitudinal folding blade and rollers, a delivery taking the transversely folded sheets frein` the folding j aw and a cylinder transferring unfolded sheets from the gripper to the longitudinal folder.

G. A folding machine including in combination a cylinder having a gripper and a folding blade, a second cylinder having a gripper and a folding jaw, said grippers cooperating to pass an unfolded sheet and said blade and jaw cooperating to pass a folded sheet to said second cylinder, and a folding device adapted to receive the unfolded sheets from said gripper on said second cylinder.

7. A folding machine including in combination a cylinder having a gripper and a folding blade, a second cylinder having a gripper and a folding jaw, said grippers eooperating to pass an unfolded sheet and said blade and jaw cooperating to pass a folded sheet to said second cylinder, a transfer cylinder taking unfolded sheets fromV the gripper on said second cylinder, and means for folding said sheets.

8. A folding machine including in combination a cylinder having a gripper and a folding blade, a second cylinder having a gripper and a folding jaw, said grippers cooperating to pass an unfolded sheet and said blade and jaw cooperating to pass a folded sheet to said second cylinder, a transfer cylinder taking unfolded sheets from the gripper on said second cylinder, and a folding blade and rollers for folding said sheets.

9. A sheet cutting and folding machine including in combination a small size rotary cutter, a large size rotary cutter, and a common folder therefor, and a folder between one rotary cutter and said common folder and folding at right angles thereto.

10. A sheet cutting and folding machine `folding device adapted to fold the sheets from one of said cutters or to pass it to said common folder.

12. A sheet cutting and folding machine l including, in combination a small size rotary cutter, a large size rotary cutter, a common folder folding blade and rollers for the sheets from both cutters and a cylinder receiving sheets from one of said cutters and having folding devices thereon and grippers alternatively operable therewith for conveying unfolded sheets forward. i

13. A `sheet cuttingand folding machine including in combination a small size rotary cutter,-a large size rotary cutter, acollectingcylinder for each cutter, and a folder receiving sheets from either collecting cylinder, and a folder interposed between one of the rotary cutters and the common folder.

14. A sheet cutting and folding machine including in combination a small size rotary cutter, a large size rotary cutter, a collecting cylinder for each cutter, and a folding blade and folding rollers receiving sheets from either collecting cylinder, and a folding cylinder between one of the rotary cutters and the folding blade and rollers.

15. A sheet cutting and folding machine including in combination a small size rotary cutter, a large size rotary cutter, a collecting cylinder for each rotary cutter, a folding cylinder receiving sheet-s from one collecting cylinder, a transfer cylinder adapted to receive both size sheets and a folding device receiving the sheets from the transfer cylinder.

16. Asheet cutting and folding machine including in combination a plurality of ro-` tary cutters, cutting sheets of different sizes, means for directing a web selectively thereto, and a plurality of folders receiving sheets from one of said cutters.

`17. A sheet cutting and folding machine including in combination a plurality of rotary cutters, cutting sheets of different sizes, means for directing a web selectively thereto, and a plurality of folders, one of said `folders receiving sheets from a plurality of said cutters or alternately one of said cutters supplying sheets to a plurality of said folders.

18. A folding mechanism including in combination sheet suppl ing means, a sheet receiving cylinder, a folding blade carried thereon, a cooperating cylinder having a ygripper and a folding jaw which are selectively silenced, and another folding mechanism tol which the gripper forwards the sheets when the folding jaw is silent.

19. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary 'cutter cutting small printed sheets, a rotary cutter cutting large Aprinted sheets, and a common transfer cylinder receiving sheets from either but not, simultaneously' from both cutters and a Common folder folding' the sheets received directly from the transfer cylinder.

21. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary cutter cutting small sheets, a rotary cutter cutting large sheets, a collecting cylinder for each cutter, and a transfer cylinder receiving sheets from both collecting. cylinders.

. l22. A rfolding Vmechanism including in combinationa rotary cutter cutting small sheets, Va rotary cutter cutting large sheets, a collecting cylinder for each cutter, a transfer cylinder receivingsheets from both collecting "cylinders and a folder receiving and folding the sheets from the transfer cylinder. Y

23.4%; folding mechanism including in combination a cuttercutting one size sheets, a cutter cutting another size sheets, a collecting cylinder receiving sheets from one cutter, a collecting cylinder receiving sheets from the other cutter, a. sheets, from the last-mentioned collecting cylinder, silencealole cooperating folding devices carried by said two last-mentioned cylinders, and a folder for folding both sizes of sheets. i

2l. A folding mechanism including in vcombination a cutter cutting one size sheets, a cutter cutting another size sheets, a collecting cylinder receiving sheets from one cutter, a collecting cylinder receiving sheets from the other cutter, a cylinder receiving Vsheets from the last-mentioned collecting cylinder, silenceable cooperating vfolding devices carried by said two last-mentioned cylinders, and a folder for folding both sizes of sheets, onev of said folders folding transversely and the other folder folding longitudinally of the web.

25. A folding mechanism including in combination a cutter cutting one size sheet a cutter cutting another size sheets. a collecting cylinder receiving sheets from one cutter, a collecting cylinder receiving sheets from the other cutter, a cylinder receiving cylinder receiving.

sheets from the last-mentioned collecting cylinder, silenceable cooperating transverse folding devices carried by said two last-mentioned cylinders, and a longitudinal `folder for folding both sizes of sheets.

26. A folding mechanism incliuling in combination a cutter cutting one size sheets, a cutter cutting another size sheets, a collecting cylinder receiving sheets from one cutter a collecting c 7linder reccivinfY sheets from the other cutter. a folding and transferring cylinderl receiving` sheets from the last-mentioned collecting` cylinder, silenceable cooperating folding devices carried by said two last-mentioned cylinders, and a folder for folding both sizes of sheets and a selectively operable delivery mechanism for receiving sheets from the folding and transferring cylinder.

2T. A folding mechanism including in combination a cutter cutting one size sheets, a cutter cutting another size sheets, a collecting cylinder receiving sheets from one cutter, av collecting` cylinder receiving sheets` from the other cutter, a folding and transferring cylinder receiving sheets from the last-mentioned collecting cylinder. silenceable cooperating folding devices carried by Said two last-mentioned cylinders, and a folder for folding both sizes ol' sheets, one of said folders folding transversely and the other folder folding lmigitudinally of the web and a selectively operable delivery kmechanism for receiving sheets from the foldingy and transferring cylinder.

Q8. Je. folding mechanism including in combination a cutter cutting one size sheets, a cutter cutting another size sheets, a collecting cylinder receiving sheets from one cutter, collecting cylinder receiving sheets from the other cutter, a folding and transferring` cylinder receiving sheets from the last-mentioned collectingcylinder, silenceable cooperating transverse folding: device carried by said two last-mentioned cylinders, and a longitudinal folder for folding both sizes of sheets and a selectively operable delivery mechanism for receiving sheets from the folding` and transferring cylinder.

29. A. folding mechanism including in combination a cutter cutting one size sheets, a cutter cutting another size sheets, a col` lecting cylinder receiving sheets from one cutter., a collecting cylinder receiving sheets from the other cutter, a folding and transferring cylinder receiving sheets from the last-mentioned collecting cylinder. silenceable cooperating folding devices carried by said two last-mentioned cylinders. and a folder for folding both sizes of sheets and a selectively operable delivery mechanism for receiving sheets from the folding and transferring cylinder and a slitter for slitting the delivered signatures.

30. A folding mechanism including in llO combination a sheet cutter, two devices taking different numbers of sheets from the cutter, and two folding mechanisms each malring transverse folds in the sheet, one folder' taking sheets from one of said devices and the other folder taking sheets from the other of said devices.

3l. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary sheet cutter, two cylinders for talring sheets directly from the cutters, two cylinders one cooperating with one of said sheet taking cylinders and the other cooperating with the other sheet taking cylinder, each pair of cooperating cylinders having a folding' blade mounted on one cylinder and a cooperating folding jaw mounted on the other cylinder, and rotary slitters operating upon the sheets upon one of the cylinders of each of said pairs.

A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary sheet cutter, two cylinders for taking sheets directly from the cutters, two cylinders one coperatin with one of said sheet talring cylinders am? the other cooperating with the other sheet taking cylinder, each pair of cylinders having coperating folding devices, the folding devices of one pair of cylinders being silenceable, and means for taking unfolded sheets from said cylinders.

33. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary sheet cutter, two cylinders for talring sheets directly from the cutters, two cylinders one cooperating with one of said sheet taking cylinders and the other cooperating1 with the other sheet taking cylinder, each pair of cylinders having coperating folding devices, the folding devices of one pair of cylinders being silenceable, and a folder for receiving unfolded sheets from said pair of cylinders and folding them.

Se. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary sheet cutter, two cylinders for taking sheets directly from the cutters, two cylinders one coperating with one of said sheet taking cylinders and the `other cooperating with the other sheet taking cylinder, each pair of cylinders having cooperating folding devices, the folding devices of one pair of cylinders being silenceable, and a folder for receiving unfolded sheets from said pair of cylinders and folding them one folder being transverse and the other folder longitudinal.

A folding mechanism including in combination a source of web supply, three sets of cutters cutting sheets of different sizes from the web, web slitting means, a plurality of turning bars for alternatively directing the web to the cutters, and a plurality of folders for alternatively folding the sheets.

36. A folding mechanism including in combination a source of web supply, a plurality of sets of cutters cutting sheets of different sizes from the web, web slitting means located ahead of the cutters, a plurality of turning bars for alternatively directing the web to the cutters, and a plurality of folders for operating alternatively to impart the first fold to the sheets.

37. A folding mechanism including in combination a source of web supply, a plurality of sets of cutters cutting sheets of different sizes from the web, web slitting means located ahead of the cutters, a plurality of devices for alternatively directinr the web to the cutters, and a plurality of fblders operating alternatively to impart the first fold to the sheets.

38. A folding mechanism including in combination a source of web supply, a plurality of sets of cutters cutting sheets of different sizes from the web, web slitting means, a plurality of turning bars for alternatively directing the web to the cutters, and a plurality of folders for alternatively folding the sheets, one of said folders alternatively folding sheets from a plurality of said cutters.

39. A, folding mechanism including in combination a source of web supply, a plurality of sets of cutters cutting sheets of different sizes from the web, web slitting means, a plurality of devices associatin the slit parts of the web and for alternatively directing the web to the cutters, and a plurality of folders for alternatively folding the sheets, one of said folders alternatively folding sheets from a plurality of said cutters.

40. A folding mechanism including in combination a small size rotary cutter, a large size rotary cutter, a folder mechanism for alternatively directing sheets thereto from either cutter, and additional means for alternatively folding and delivering the sheets from one of said cutters.

41. A folding mechanism including in combination a small size rotary cutter, a large size rotary cutter, common web associating means for said cutters, a folder mechanism for alternatively directing sheets thereto from either cutter, and additional means for alternatively folding and delivering the sheets from one of said cutters.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH J. WALSER.

W'itnesses:`

J. F. KoEHLnR, E. H. GRAHAM. 

